In the excerpt below, McDonough investigates Kushner's examination of male identity in Angels in America, arguing that the play critiques "social assumptions regarding the efficacy of traditional masculinity. "

Although most of the male characters discussed in this study have put their faith in a set idea of masculinity and manhood, most also suffer confusion and doubt because they feel unable to achieve or maintain that ideal manhood. Mamet's businessmen, Shepard's would-be cow-boys, Rabe's soldiers and single men, and Wilson's family men, while sharing some common beliefs about American masculinity, all structure their ideas of manhood by privileging different qualities and structures of that masculinity. In short, although they tend to assume one definition, when set side by side their multiple stories provide multiple perspectives on masculinity. Even within...